HOUSTON — A former MD Anderson administrator is claiming the hospital misclassified its chief legal officer as an independent contractor and that she was fired in retaliation for reporting the policy violation.
Deborah Gardner filed a complaint Jan. 29 in the Harris County District Court against the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center also known as MD Anderson Cancer Center alleging whistleblower retaliation and age discrimination.
Gardner worked for MD Anderson as its legal services department administrator for more than six years. She alleges that on Oct. 10, 2019 she learned that a senior vice president and chief legal officer who was hired as an independent contractor was misclassified as an "employee," including being allowed access to MD Anderson's email network, voicemail, databases and signing legal documents on behalf of the healthcare facility. Gardner claims she was fired for reporting the policy violation on Dec. 30, 2019.
Gardner seeks monetary relief, interest and all other just relief. She is represented by Katherine Mize, Travis Bryan and Michael Meltser of Mize PC in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2020-06021